Looking for some Kiwi sailors to add some good information, such as where you can anchor, what to do when you get there, where to eat.Howard [ Just Imagine ] 14-Feb-2008NZ is a fabulous place to go cruising, to avoid the southern hemisphere cyclone season (Dec-April) or to go to for repairs or maintenance (lots of facilities, skills are high, and costs are low - Kiwis are very 'boatie' people and very welcoming).

Ports on the west coast mostly have bars best not attempted without local knowledge. New Plymouth is primarily a commercial harbour and, although a port of entry, is not well-suited to cruising yachts except for adverse weather shelter.

Arriving from the NE by far the best port of entry for yachts is Opua in the beautiful Bay of Islands - in fact you may desire to go no further after cruising the area.

Auckland is the largest city in NZ (dubbed the City of Sails) but it's a long walk from the marina to the city. Cruising nearby Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula is very rewarding

Arriving from Australia the best port of entry is either Opua (taking care to give Cape Reinga a wide berth) or Nelson in Tasman Bay, entered before getting involved in Cook Strait (commonly wind against tide and uncomfortably choppy). From Nelson one can cruise the beautiful Marlborough Sounds and then cross to Port Nicholson (Wellington) and onward up the east coast before heading off again.

Full details for arriving yachts can be found at: http://www.customs.govt.nz/ (click on yachts and small craft)
Please note that you must have prior permission before arrival which you can obtain via a link on that web page.

Don't be fooled into thinking that the weather is better up north - that is not always so. The best weather in NZ is to be found at the top end of the South Island. Wellington can get very windy, and Auckland very humid with regular rainfall. So the best places to cruise are the Marlborough Sounds (top of SI), the east coast of the NI and north of Auckland (Bay of Islands, etc.). If you don't mind occasionally cold and unreliable weather even in summer, Fiordland (SW of SI) is fabulous.

This page should be subordinate to Queensland.
Brisbane is a Port of Entry, but only at Riverside in the city. Marinas in Moreton Bay are no longer ports of entry.
Refer also to QueenslandDavid [ Capricorn II ] 05-Feb-2008

Arrival in Australia is only permitted following 96 hours notice to yachtreport@customs.gov.au.
Full details on requirements for yacht arrival at:
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4360.asp
Best ports of entry for Queensland are either Brisbane or Port Bundaberg. Next POEs heading northwards are:
Gladstone, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns.
Brisbane POE is at Riverside (in the river in the city).
Port of Bundaberg is primarily a yacht marina 1NM up the Burnett River, whereas Bundaberg City is another 14 miles upriver. Radio Marina and Customs in Bundaberg. Marina will guide you to quarantine berth. Customs will arrive by car not long after arrival.
Plenty of marinas, harbours and anchorages in Australian east coast.David [ Capricorn II ] 10-Feb-2012